Pay roll printing device



July 10, 1956 w. R. BROWN 2,753,790

PAY ROLL PRINTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 23, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l WWI/Vial W/zz/m/ i. Zia/WV,

July 10, 1956 w. R. BROWN 2,753,790

PAY ROLL PRINTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 23, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 10, 1956 w. R. BROWN 2,753,790

PAY ROLL PRINTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 23, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ivar/AK United States Patent PAY ROLL PRINTDIG DEVICE William Russell-Brown, Long Beach, Calif.

Application November 23, 1953, Serial No. 393,819

1 Claim. (Cl. 101-80) This invention relates to. a pay roll printing, device where a number of names can be printed in sequence upon a pay roll or ledger sheet and also upon a. check if desired, the names being automatically changed to provide the proper sequence by indexingv means each time that the printing head is lowered to print a name upon the sheet.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel pay roll printing device in which an inked tape or carbon sheet is positioned against the printing roll, thus eliminating an inking pad or roller with the corresponding difiiculties of such a device.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel pay roll printing device in which an indexing device partially rotates the printing head or drum each time that the printing drum is lowered to print a name upon the ledger sheet or the like, and in which the printing head is manually lowered on rotation of the shaft on which the printing head is mounted.

Another object of my invention is to provide a means whereby the pay roll sheet, check, or the like, is properly positioned by an indexing device which is operated simultaneously with the printing head.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel pay roll printing device in which the printing head, the rotatable printing drum, and the means of shifting the pay roll sheet, or the like, are all actuated from a single shaft and this shaft is partially rotated manually by the operator.

A feature of my invention resides in the novel means of providing an inked ribbon or carbon paper for movement relative to the printing drum and this inked ribbon or carbon paper is also continuously advanced relative to the drum upon rotation of a single shaft upon which the printing head is mounted.

Other. objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my pay roll printing device.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the printing head.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectionalview taken on-line 3--"3 ofFigure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view similar to. Figure 4 butrshowing'the printing head in raised position.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view'ta'ken on line 66 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing the pawls in raised position.

'Figure 8' is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 99 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 but showing the drive in the reversed position.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary top plan view of the shiftingmec-hanism for the ribbon drive.

Figure 12 is a top plan view of my pay roll printing device showing the pay roll sheet in its maximum raised or stopping position.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary end view of the drum and the printing lugs thereon.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral lindicates a base board or table upon which the printing mechanisms are mounted. A pair of bearing blocks23 are mounted 'onwthe base 1 and these bearings are mounted one on each end of the base, substantially as shown.

An actuating shaft 4 is journalled in the bearing 2--3 and extends longitudinally of the base 1 and is spaced somewhat above this base. The shaft 4 is partially rotated by a handle 5 which is fixedly attached to one end of the shaft. This handle moves throughan arc of approxi: mately thirty degrees and moves from a raised to a lowered position, asshown in Figure 3. This is accomplished manuallyby the operator. A secondary shaft 6 is also journalled in the bearings 2--3 and is parallel to the shaft 4. A spring 7 encircles the shaft 4 and one end bears against the shaft 6 and the other end against the handle 5, thus urging the handle to its normal raised position. and. also rotating the shaft 4 back to its starting position, all of which will be subsequently described.

A printing head 8v is. fixedly mounted on the shaft 4 and consequently rotates with. this. shaft. The head 8' consists of an end plate. 9' at one end thereof, and a gear housing 10 at the other end thereof. These members 9 and 10 are fixedly attachedto the shaft 4, thus mounting the printing head in its position. It will thus be evident that when the shaft 4 i'sv partially rotated by manipulation of the handles, that the printing head 8 will spring from a raised position shown in Figure 5 to a lowered or printing position shown in Figure 4.

A pay roll sheet 11' is mounted on the base 1 and the names of the employees are printed upon this sheet. The pay roll sheet 11 is moved. upwardly, step by "step to properly print employees names in a column upon this sheet. It is also possible to simultaneously print the name of the employee on a check 12, particularly where carbon paper is placed. between the check and the pay roll sheet 11,or where there is a carbon surface on the bottom o f the check 12.

A plate 13 is mounted on the base 1 at' the right hand edge; thereof and this plate is provided with pins 14 by means of whichthe check 12 is held in proper alignment and positioned upon the base 1. The check is formed with suitable matching holes through which the pins 14 can. extend. The plate 13 may also be adjustable on the base 1- so as to properly align the'check '12. During the printing operation, a check 12 over-lies the payroll sheet 11 and a new check 12 is positioned on the pay roll sheet 11 each time that this pay roll sheet is. shifted and each time the'printing head 8" is moved upward.

An indexing mechanism for the pay roll sheet 1 1 includes a strap '15 which extends. along the. left hand edge of the base 1. The strap 15 is provided with two pins 16-16, which rise therefrom and these pins extend through appropriate holes in the ledger sheet 11, thus holding the ledger sheet in proper position relative to the strap 15 and also causing the ledger sheet to move with'this'strap. The strap'15 is shaped like a'structural angle and teeth" 17' are formed on the vertical portion of the angle. A linger IS-isfixedly secured to the shaft 4 and a dog 19 is-pivotally attached to the finger 1'8 and is normally. held in: contact with the teeth. 17 by the spring 20, thus each. time that the shaft 4 rotates to its original or. starting position, i. e.,v clockwise, asv viewed fromv Figures. fiand 7,, the dog 19 will be movedto the right thus advancinggor indexing the strap 15 and thus moving the ledger sheet 11 to a position to receive another name on the next line in the column on the ledger sheet. A check pawl 21 engages the teeth 17 to prevent an accidental retraction of the strap 15 and so that this strap will be properly advanced or indexed to properly print the names on each line of the ledger sheet 11. The teeth 17 on top of the strap 15 extend from substantially the same distance as the width of a ledger sheet. In other words, when the last teeth 17 is reached the last line on the ledger sheet is also in position. Thus when the pawl 19 has engaged the last tooth 17 the last line on the ledger sheet is in position to be printed. When it is desired to return the strap 15 to its starting position, as handle 22 is moved which, in turn, moves a cam strip 23 horizontally. This cam strip is slidably mounted on the base plate 1 and is formed with cam surfaces 24 and 25, which engage pins 26 and 27, respectively. The pins 26 and 27 project from the pawls 21 and 19, respectively, and thus as the cams 24 and move horizontally the pawls 19 and 21 will both be lifted so as to free the strip 15 and permit it to be returned against the stop 28. In this manner, the ledger sheet can always be returned to its initial or starting position so that the first name may be imprinted on the top of that sheet. Subsequent names in the column will be printed as the ledger sheet 11 is indexed upwardly in a step by step manner and as the shaft 4 is manually rotated.

A printing head 8 includes a drum 29 which is mounted on a spindle 30 and the spindle being removably mounted in the printing head 3, that is, the drum 29 may be removed and replaced with another if additional name's are required. The drum 29 is preferably formed with peripheral grooves '29 and the printing slugs 29 upon which the names are formed are fitted in these grooves.

The strap 15 is slidably mounted on the base 1. The teeth 17 on the top of this strap extend for substantially the same distance of the width of a ledger sheet. Also the teeth 17 are spaced a distance corresponding to the spacing of the usual lines on a ledger sheet. When the last tooth 17 is reached on the strap 1'5 the last line on the ledger sheet is also in position under the drum 29 and ready to receive the final name on this last line.

The drum 29 is indexed in the following manner: A ratchet wheel 31 is fixedly mounted on the shaft 30 and this ratchet Wheel is engaged by a spring finger 32, which is pivotally mounted on a block 33, which is mounted on the shafts 4 and 6. It will be obvious from Figure 5 that whenever the printing head 8 is sprung upwardly to its non-printing position that the ratchet 31 will be indexed one tooth since the spring finger 32 remains substantially stationary as far as springing movement relative to the shaft 4 is concerned. A spring pressed pawl 34 engages the ratchet wheel 31 to prevent reverse rotation of the ratchet wheel and consequently the drum 29. A date slug 35 may be mounted on the bottom of the block 36, which is mounted within a metal housing 37, this housing being secured to the inner face of the gear housing 10 and the date slug is removable so that a new slug can be inserted as required, thus the date may be inserted simultaneously with the printing of the name.

In order that the names on the various type slugs on the drum 29 may be printed, I provide an inked ribbon or strip of carbon 38 which encircles the spools 39 and 40. The spools 39 and 40 are j'ournalled in the end plate 9 and the gear housing 10. The spools are advanced step by step or indexed in a suitable manner similar to a typewriter ribbon and this driving mechanism for the spools may consist of a strap 41 within the gear housing 10 and a second strap 42 also within the gear housing 10. The straps 41 and 42 are positioned below and above the ratchets 43 and 44 secured to the spools 39 and 40, respectively. The strap 41 is provided with horizontally extending pins 45 and 46 which engage either of the ratchets '43 or 44 depending on how the strap 41 is tilted. A'link 47 is pivotally attached to the strap 41 at one end and is journalled on the shaft 6 at the other end. Thus each time that the printing head 8 is lowered, the link '47 will cause the strap 41 to move lengthwise thereof, thus causing a pin 45 or 46 to engage the ratchet 43 or '44 and thus partially rotate the spools 39 or 49. The straps 41 and 42 are connected by a tilting mechanism consisting of a cam plate 48 which is pivotally mounted in the gear box 10.

A crank 49 operates in a slot 50 formed in the cam plate 48. The slot 59 acts as a guide for the throw of the crank. This slot also serves as a stop for the crank. A pair of springs 51-52 are attached to the crank 49 at one end and at the other end to the straps 42 and 41, respectively. A second pair of springs 53 and '54 are also secured at one end to the crank 49 and at the other end to the straps 42 and 41 respectively. These pairs of springs are oppositely arranged with respect to the crank 49 and consequently as this crank moves upwardly or downwardly the straps 41 and 42 are tilted so that they will engage either of the ratchet wheels 43 or 44 depending on how the straps are tilted. In this way the ribbon 38 may be reeled upon either of the spools 39 or 40, depending on how the crank 49 is positioned.

In operation The ledger sheet 11 is placed on the pins 16 and the strap 15 is moved downwardly against the stop 28. The check 12 may be placed over the ledger sheet 11 and positioned on the pins 14 to properly align and position that check. The drum 29 is properly positioned to start with the first name desired to be imprinted on the ledger sheet. The handle 5 is now lowered manually which swings the printing head 3 downwardly to a position where one line or slug of type on the drum 29 is pressed against the ledger sheet 11. The handle 5 is now released and the spring 7 returns the handle to its raised position and also reverses the direction of rotation of the shaft 4. The drum 29 is indexed one point forward by this movement due to the engagement of the finger 3:2 with the ratchet wheel 31. The ribbon 38 passes around the bottom portion of the drum 29 and the name is printed through this ribbon and upon the ledger sheet 11 or the check 12, or both.

The swinging movement of the handle 5 previously described has also caused the dog 19 to engage one of the teeth on the strap 15 thus indexing this strap one step upwardly on the base I and thus positioning the next line on the ledger sheet 11 so that the next name on the drum 29 can be printed thereon by the next downward movement of the handle 5. The ribbon 38 is also moved step by step around the drum 29 by the lengthwise movement of the straps 41 and 42 actuated by the link 47. These straps engage the ratchet Wheels 43 or 44 causing the spools 39 and 40 to rotate step by step, thus moving the ribbon 38 with relation to the drum 29. When all of the names on the drum 29 have been printed or the bottom of the ledger sheet 11 is reached, a new ledger sheet is inserted on the pins 16 and the strap 15 is returned to its position against the stop 28 by swinging the handle 22 so as to lift the dog 19 and the check pawl 21.

Having described my invention, I claim:

A pay roll printing device comprising a base plate, a shaft extending across said plate and adjacent one edge thereof, journal means on the plate in which the shaft is mounted, a handle fixedly secured to the shaft whereby the shaft is oscillated, a printing head fixedly mounted on the shaft to oscillate with the shaft, a drum in the printing head, means journalling said drum in the printing head, name blocks on the periphery of said drum, indexing means on said shaft engaging said drum to partially rotate said drum each time the shaft is rotated, a strap slidably mounted on the base and positioned adjacent one edge of the base, teeth on the strap, a dog mounted on said shaft, said dog engaging the teeth to References Cited in the file of this patent slide said strap on the base plate, said dog engaging the UNITED STATES PATENTS teeth each time the shaft is rotated, and holding means on the strap engaging a ledger sheet to hold the ledger 301,999 1 July 1884 sheet in position under the printing head, a cam strip 5 330,183 wllkms 1885 slidably mounted on said base, said earn strip including 461861 Wright 1891 a cam surface thereon, means on the dog engageable by 664484 Landon 1900 said cam surface to lift the dog out of engagement with 924245 Kuhn June 1909 said teeth on the strap, said cam strip being manually 933,910 Loewenbach Sept 1909 movable on said base y 1,766,626 Glasgow June 24, 1930 1,839,352 Smith Jan. 5, 1932 

